Chapter Nine
Another week passed of interviews that gave up nothing, of leads that went nowhere and both cases stalling to the point of sheer madness.
The only things not stalling were his growing feelings for Angelique. Each day he was eager to cross the bridge to her shanty and every night he was reluctant to leave it.
The woman he had first met to get her out of his investigations, the one he’d believed was a complete control freak, was nothing like the Angelique he’d come to know.
What he’d come to know about her was that she was kind and warm and giving in nature. She was bright and funny and they shared the same sense of humor.
Since the night he had spoken to her so candidly about the kind of love he wanted her to find, something in their relationship had subtly changed.
Their conversations since then had been deeper…more intimate and he was enjoying getting to know all the facets of her personality. He had also found himself sharing with her more of himself than he thought he’d ever shared with a woman before.
He’d talked to her more about his childhood and life with his father, while she shared bits and pieces of her relationship with Jason. They’d talked about failed dreams and new ones and the murders that had forever changed both of their lives.
It worried him. He was falling for her, and yet he saw no real indication that she felt the same about him. The sexual tension was still off the charts between them, but they hadn’t made love again.
Had she pulled him into her bedroom the first time because she’d desired Daniel the man or because she wanted to make sure Daniel the lawman remained committed to solving the cases?
Was she still being so friendly to him in the evenings because she enjoyed their time together? Or did she have the ulterior motivation of keeping him producing on the cases?
He didn’t like to think about her like that, but he just wasn’t sure what to believe where she was concerned. She was like no other woman he had ever known. All he knew for sure was he was getting in way too deep with her and he wasn’t sure what to do about it.
During the past week they had interviewed Marianne Lutgen and she had confessed to them that she didn’t particularly like Angelique.
She found Angelique snooty in not wanting to join in the parties Marianne threw.
It was ironic that a party was her alibi for both the night of Mystique’s murder and Angelique’s attack.
Tonight, he’d asked Angelique if she’d like to have dinner at his house. He thought a change of scenery might be good for them both. The shanty was full of her scent and made it difficult for him to focus. It held the memories of their intimacy, also making it difficult for him to think straight.
Besides, tonight he intended to tell her that the nightly check-ins were coming to an end. They were beginning to feel too much like pleasure rather than work. Things were moving so slowly in the cases he figured once-a-week check-ins would be more appropriate.
It would definitely be mentally healthy for him to pull back on seeing her so often. He needed to protect himself from his growing feelings for her.
It was just before five on another unproductive day when he, Clay and Luke sat in his office. “I don’t see anything on tap for tomorrow as far as the investigations go,” Daniel said dispiritedly.
“We’ve explored every avenue that’s come up so far.
I still believe eventually Pierre is going to break and confess to somebody that he killed Mystique, and hopefully when he does talk, the person he talks to will come straight to us,” Luke said.
“I still believe that murder was a crime of passion.”
“I agree,” Clay added. “The attack on Angelique is far more complicated, and I’m afraid the only way we might get more clues about it is if the attacker comes for her again.”
Daniel’s muscles tensed at the very thought. The idea of another attack on her scared him to death. “Too bad there were no fingerprints on the note the attacker left for her.”
“That would have made it all too easy,” Luke replied.
“Something will give,” Clay said optimistically. “Somebody will talk or a new suspect will show himself. One way or another, we’re going to get both Mystique’s killer and Angelique’s attacker behind bars.”
“On that optimistic note, I’m heading home,” Daniel said and rose from his desk. The other men got up and together they all left the office. “I’ll see you two in the morning.”
“Good night, boss,” Luke said.
“See you in the morning,” Clay added.
Moments later, Daniel was in his car and headed home. Thankfully, before leaving for work that morning he’d prepared everything he could for the evening meal.
The table was set for two. The potatoes were washed, wrapped in aluminum foil and ready to pop into the oven. Two nice rib eye steaks were marinating in the fridge, and he’d chopped up cucumbers, celery and carrots to add to a salad.
Once home, he turned on the oven, popped the potatoes in and then went upstairs for a quick shower. He dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue-and-gray T-shirt.
Angelique had insisted she’d come to him, although he would have preferred that he pick her up and take her home at the end of the evening. But she’d insisted she could drive herself and there was no need for him to drive into the swamp to get her.
As he waited for her to arrive, he began to set things on the table.
The salt and pepper shakers sat next to a small carton of butter and a bowl of sour cream for the baked potatoes.
He then began putting together the salad.
He’d just finished and set it in the center of the table when his doorbell rang, announcing her arrival.
As always when he was about to see her, a sweet anticipation soared through him.
Tonight was no different. She looked lovely, clad in a pair of black jeans that hugged her long, slender legs and a crisp white sleeveless blouse.
Her hair was in a high pony with a white-and-black polka-dot bow.
She looked positively stunning. She looked classy and sexy at the same time.
“Welcome to my home,” he said as he stepped aside so she could come in the front door.
“Thank you,” she replied.
“Did you have any trouble finding it?”
“Not at all. Your directions brought me right to you with no problem,” she replied.
“Good. Come on into the kitchen and sit.” He led her through the living room and into the kitchen, where he gestured for her to sit at the table.
“You have a lovely home,” she observed.
“Thanks, I like it here, although there are times I think about selling it.”
“Why?”
“It’s a lot of house for a single guy,” he replied. “Are you hungry?”
“Of course. You said to bring my appetite, so I did,” she replied with one of her endearing grins. “Now, what can I do to help?”
“Absolutely nothing. The potatoes are going to take another twenty minutes or so, and then I’m putting the steaks outside on the grill and they will only take about fifteen minutes. By the way, how do you like your steak?”
“Medium rare.”
“Ah good, that makes it easy for the cook. That’s the way I like mine, too.” He sat down in the chair facing her. “So, how was your day?”
“It was good…quiet. Dominique came over for lunch, and then after she left, I worked until it was time to get ready to come here. How was your day?”
He frowned. “Unfortunately, I have nothing to report tonight. I’m not going to lie, the cases have both stalled out.”
“What, exactly, does that mean?”
“It means until somebody talks or your attacker comes at you again, we have nothing new to investigate.” He leaned forward. “I swear, Angelique, if I could, I would have your mother’s murderer behind bars right now. I would definitely have the person who came after you behind bars as well.”
She reached out and covered one of his hands with hers. “It’s okay, Daniel. I know you’re doing everything you can to find the bad guys.”
“I just wish it was enough. I’m supposed to get the bad guys in jail. That’s my job, and right now I feel like I’m failing at it miserably.”
“You’ll get the bad guys,” she replied. “We all just need to be a little patient. I knew solving Mama’s murder was going to be difficult, and as far as the attack on me, I haven’t been able to give you anything to go on.” She pulled her hand back from his.
He smiled at her for a long moment. “You are absolutely nothing like what I initially thought you were going to be,” he said.
She released a small laugh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He leaned back in his chair. “When I first met you, I thought you were going to be a controlling witch. I figured you’d ride me hard and expect unreasonable progress in a complicated murder case.
Instead, you’ve been quite the opposite.
You’ve been very patient and understanding, and you’ll never know how much I appreciate it. ”
“And when I first met you, I thought you were going to be a real hard-ass jerk who would reluctantly dole out information to me as you saw fit. Funny how first impressions aren’t always the right ones.”
“By the way, you look quite pretty tonight.”
She smiled in obvious pleasure. “Why, thank you, kind sir. How is your arm doing?”
“Good, it’s pretty much healed up. We’ve both survived our war wounds.”
She laughed, the musical sound so pleasant to his ears. “And hopefully we won’t get any more.”
“Amen to that,” he replied. “And, on that note, I’m going to head outside and get the steaks on.” He got up from the table. “You just sit tight right here. Can I get you something to drink before I go out?”
“No thanks, I’m fine.”
If it wasn’t so hot outside, he would have set the table on his patio so they could eat out there, but the night was sultry and the air was thick, making it unpleasant to be outside. It was only going to get worse as the summer months went on. Thank goodness for air-conditioning, he thought.